: From E-mails to Book Sales: An Afghan Celebrity is Born

In the turmoil of the initial moments after September 11th, when people were calling for Afghanistan to be “bombed into the stone age,” author Tamim Ansary penned a quick email to some friends. “Trouble is,” he wrote, “it’s been done“. The email missive found its way around the net to millions thirsty for a look inside Afghanistan. Ansary has followed up on his email with a new book, “West of Kabul, East of New York,” which reflects on the Afghanistan he knew as a child – peaceful, happy, and practicing Islam without coercion – as well as his experiences as an immigrant to America. “I’m just always talking about it – the wrestling-with-identity thing,” Ansary explains. “Now, it just so happens that people care to listen.”

Shahed Amanullah is editor-in-chief of altmuslim.com.